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Sunday, May 18, 2014

TOOLS TO UN-STICK YOUR WRITING – Part 1

Problems in writing pop up frequently and involve everything from
general plot issues to misbehaving or lackluster characters to missing pieces
of crucial information. When we’re stuck, it’s handy to have a process to
un-stick us. Getting enough ideas to choose the best one, is the goal. We need to get to the 7th solution.

There are key concepts involved:

problem solving steps

brainstorming basics

seeking help

brainstorming focus and freewriting

1) Problem Solving Concepts

The basic problem solving method devised at Harvard circa 1972 is
the foundation for most of the models since. It’s logical:

define the problem specifically

brainstorm a list of ideas for solutions

walk away and come back later to evaluate the list

design or choose a solution to implement from the list

2) Brainstorming with green light thinking

lock up your inner critic

record all ideas whether or not they are complete, silly, improbably or
possible

write quickly without worrying about structure or grammar

try a mind map

NOTE: The free flow
process may feel awkward initially. It might be because your inner critic is
still yelling at you from lock up. More likely it’s a matter of practice. You
don’t get to be a star tennis player the first time you hold a racket, but with
practice you get better. Freewriting/brainstorming is a skill. Keep at it.

3) Seeking help

Two heads are better than one and research says
three to five heads are even better. But apparently three, four or five are equally good. Invite two friends and initiate a roaring brainstorm session to maximize your ideas.

4) Freewriting - brainstorming on the page.

Freewriting can be general, a completion of the starter: I want to write a story about.... Or it may be applied to more focused issues. If using it for a narrower issue, be sure to use stage
one of the problem solving model. Write down a specific problem.

Ask the character what they want to do, or will do, or what happened
next. Again, keep writing until you get that “let’s go” feeling. Your gut will
tell you if you are on the right track.

Remember, the chances are the first three to six ideas you come up with
will be ordinary even boring. But that 7th idea – it’s gold. Hang on to it. Learn to exercise your brainstorming muscle. It is one of the most
valuable tools in a writer’s toolkit.